BREAKING: Ascension Wisconsin grapples with cybersecurity event, disrupting clinical operations

RACINE, Wis. — Ascension Wisconsin reported a cybersecurity incident on Wednesday, May 8, that has led to significant disruptions in its clinical operations.

The healthcare provider detected “unusual activity” on select technology network systems, which it believes to be a cybersecurity event, according to a statement released by Ascension Wisconsin.

The organization responded by launching an investigation and activating remediation efforts immediately. However, access to some of its systems has been interrupted as the process continues. Ascension Wisconsin has engaged Mandiant, a renowned cybersecurity firm, to assist in the investigation and recovery efforts.

“Our care teams are trained for these kinds of disruptions and have initiated procedures to ensure patient care delivery continues to be safe and as minimally impacted as possible,” said Mo Moorman, senior director of external Relations for Ascension Wisconsin.

Ascension Wisconsin responds to cybersecurity event

Despite these measures, clinical operations have been noticeably disrupted, and the full impact and duration of the disruption are still being assessed.

In light of this event, Ascension has recommended that its business partners temporarily suspend their connections to the Ascension environment to prevent further issues. The healthcare provider has also notified the appropriate authorities and is working closely with them to investigate the breach.

Patients and stakeholders are understandably concerned about the potential exposure of sensitive information. Ascension Wisconsin has assured the public that if it is determined that sensitive information was affected, those impacted will be notified and supported in accordance with all relevant regulatory and legal guidelines.

This incident raises concerns about the vulnerability of healthcare systems to cyber attacks, which have become increasingly sophisticated and frequent. Experts emphasize the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and continuous monitoring to mitigate such risks.

Ascension Wisconsin provides information page

Ascension Wisconsin promises to provide updates as the situation evolves and has set up a dedicated page on its website for the most recent information.

For further details, please visit Ascension’s update page.